Obituary: Mary HasselMary Hassel ATKINS — Mary Frances Edwards Hassel, 67, of Hector went to be with her Lord Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014, at her home. She was born Jan. 12, 1947, in Russellville, daughter of the late Charles and Verna Illa Hillis Edwards. She attended Hector First Assembly of God Church and loved to sew, garden, bake and cook. She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Clara Ellen Mabry. She is survived by her husband of 38 years, Jerry Has...

Obituary: Anna KnauffAnna Knauff Anna Clarice “Ann” Ross Knauff, 92, of Cairo, Grady County, Ga., died Friday, Dec. 26, 2014, at Grady General Hospital in Cairo, Grady County, Ga., at 1:16 p.m. She is third daughter and eighth child of the late George Lee Ross and Ellie Gertrude Dickey Ross of Russellville. Born in Pope County, Sept. 12, 1922, she attended one- and two-rooms schools in Pope County and graduated from Hector High School, where she was a standout bas...

Suspected drug runner stopped short in Pope CountyA Georgia man was arrested over the weekend in Pope County on suspicion of transporting drugs from California to Georgia. Arkansas State Police troopers stopped Joel Purnell, 46, of Forest Park, Ga., shortly after 5 p.m. Sunday near the 90 mile marker on Interstate 40 East for speeding, according to a police report. Officers noted Purnell was nervous and told them "an implausible travel story" before allegedly admitting to having a gun and a "...

A look back at 2014Editor's note: From changes in the landscape and leadership to tragedies, The Courier staff compiled a list of the top stories in 2014 in the Arkansas River Valley. • On Aug. 5, the Russellville City Council unanimously approved a contract with Tennessee-based Hunt Properties to construct a convention center and hotel complex that has been in the making since 2006. The project was put on hold due to an economic recession shortly after its ince...

Retiring forecaster gladly leaves grim task behindNORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - A longtime Arkansas weatherman will issue his final forecast this week, then gladly give up the grimmest task in his business - logging the deaths of everyone who couldn't get out of the way of a storm. "What sticks out in my mind are storm surveys," said John Robinson, who retires from the National Weather Service office on Friday after 40½ years. "I can remember every single place where someone died." Robinson ...

ASU awaits Mexican campus construction informationJONESBORO, Ark. (AP) - Though no new information has materialized in recent months, Arkansas State University officials remain optimistic about opening a campus in Queretaro, Mexico, in 2016. Earlier this month, Jeff Hankins, vice president of strategic communications, said ASU expects to get new information regarding "dirt work" on the campus in the first quarter of 2015. "I know they are anxious," Hankins said. "They are waiting on final per...

Berryville company to help upgrade iconic handgunBERRYVILLE, Ark. (AP) - Custom gun-maker Wilson Combat is teaming up with Beretta USA to produce an upgraded version of an iconic military handgun. The Beretta/Wilson 92G Brigadier Tactical is a 9mm, semi-automatic pistol built at Beretta's plant in Maryland and goes to the buyer fitted with custom parts made by Wilson Combat of Berryville. The pistols are being built in a limited run, perhaps up to 2,000 in total. Some features of the 92G Bri...

2 killed in crashes on Arkansas highwaysJUDSONIA, Ark. (AP) - Arkansas State Police say two people have died in separate single-vehicle accidents in the state during the weekend. Troopers say 55-year-old James Marsh of Searcy was killed Saturday when the vehicle he was driving on a road in White County about 8 miles north of Judsonia went off the roadway and struck a tree. And state police say 59-year-old Gary Don Jaggers of Dumas died Friday night when the vehicle he was driving on...

Arrest in Christmas Day slayings in Forrest CityFORREST CITY, Ark. (AP) - Forrest City police say a suspect has been arrested in connection with the shooting deaths of two men on Christmas morning. Police say the suspect in the deaths is a Forrest City man who was arrested about 3:30 a.m. Christmas Day after the bodies of 42-year-old Gary Thomas of Forrest City and 38-year-old Kendrick Smith of Goodwin were found in a car outside an apartment complex. Police say the victims were found about...

Man killed in southwest Little Rock shootingLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Little Rock police a suspect has been arrested in a shooting that killed a man and wounded a 14-year-old at a home in southwest Little Rock. Police say 37-year-old Troy Holmes died after being shot, the teenager was wounded by gunshots to both legs and Holmes' wife was injured when she was hit in the head with a gun. Witnesses told police the shooting occurred shortly before 11 p.m. Saturday after Holmes told two men a...

Missing Ozark man found dead in Logan CountyOZARK, Ark. (AP) - Police in Ozark say a 91-year-old man who had been missing since Christmas Day has been found dead. Police Chief Cory Tedford told reporters that William Harris was found dead about 4 p.m. Sunday near his car on Highway 309 in Logan County. Tedford says there are no signs of foul play and that Harris may have died from exposure to the weather. Tedford says Harris may have gotten stuck and tried to walk for help. Harris had l...

State agencies' funds hurt by bond fee declineLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - An increase of low-level criminal offenders released without paying bond is hurting the wallets of several local and state agencies in Arkansas. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (http://bit.ly/1xbUhJ1 ) reports county jails have controlled inmate populations for decades by releasing offenders bond-free on citations that order them to show up to their court date. The practice has increased in recent years as the lockups ho...

5 things for Hillary Clinton in 2015WASHINGTON (AP) - A still undeclared candidate, Hillary Rodham Clinton sits atop the prospective field of Democratic presidential candidates for 2016. But as Clinton has said before, if she runs again, she'll work as hard as any underdog. Clinton's 2008 presidential bid stumbled against President Barack Obama, undermined by anti-war activists who opposed her vote to authorize the Iraq war, infighting among her staff and a large entourage in th...

Beebe sees path forward for Medicaid planLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Outgoing Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe said Monday he's cautiously optimistic that the state will keep its compromise Medicaid expansion, warning that abandoning the program could be "politically disastrous" for its opponents. The two-term Democrat, who leaves office next month due to term limits, said he believes there's a path forward for reauthorizing the state's "private option." More than 213,000 people are enrolled in...

Arkansas businesses have 1 month to seek disaster LoansLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Arkansas businesses that sustained economic damage following storms, tornadoes and flooding in April have one month left to apply for a federal disaster loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration. Linda Nelson, director of the SBA's Arkansas office, says Jan. 29 is the deadline to apply for loans to compensate for economic injuries caused by severe weather on April 27. Nelson says small nonfarm businesses, small ...

State agencies' funds hurt by bond fee declineLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - An increase in the number of low-level criminal offenders released without paying bond is hurting the wallets of several local and state agencies in Arkansas. County jails have controlled inmate populations for decades by releasing offenders bond-free on citations that order them to show up to their court date, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (http://bit.ly/1xbUhJ1 ) reported. The practice has increased in recent years a...

Bridge project In Crawford County to begin in JanuaryFORT SMITH, Ark. (AP) - A long-term bridge project in Crawford County is scheduled to kick off in early January. The Southwest Times Record reports (http://bit.ly/1zNbQBe ) that county road crews will begin work on the $1.05 million Pevehouse Bridge project on Jan. 5. Emergency Management Director Dennis Gilstrap construction of the bridge will cause road closures for some traffic in the area. The county and the city of Van Buren will work tog...

Why the US will power the world economy in 2015The United States is back, and ready to drive global growth in 2015. After long struggling to claw its way out of the Great Recession, the world's biggest economy is on an extended win streak that is edging it closer to full health. But the new year doesn't look quite so bright in other major countries. China is slowing as it transitions from investment to consumption. Japan has slid into a recession. Russia appears headed for one. Europe is b...

Candidate Q&A: State Senate District 16Thomas Akin Why are you seeking this position? District 16 needs a Senator with real business experience and a financial background to help pass laws that will help small business grow and create jobs. What will you bring to the position that your opponents will not? I have 30 years experience in business. I have started most of my businesses from nothing and worked in them daily, growing each one into a successful business. It takes hard work...